Comparative Analysis of Amino Acid Composition in the Head, Muscle and Tail of Fresh African Cat Fish (Clarias gariepinus)

Consumption of seafood has increased globally over the past 50 years, from an average of 9.9 kg per capital in the 1960s to over 20 kg in 2016. In Nigeria, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) has gained more attention in terms of farming and consumption compared to other seafood. This project was carried out to determine the level of amino acid composition in the head, muscle and tail of catfish so as to enlighten the public about their choice on the part of catfish to be eaten. Eight different sets of fresh catfish with a mean ± standard deviation of 15.6 kg ± 1.89, which were collected from a local fish pound in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, were used for the analysis. Extraction and evaluation of the amino acid composition were carried out using standard analytical techniques. The results obtained showed that high values of amino acids were observed in the fresh catfish (g/100g protein): 13.27 - 13.87 (Glu), 8.76 - 10.39 (Asp), 7.20 - 9.15 (Leu), 7.00 - 8.26 (Lys) and a low value in (Cys), 1.27 - 1.38. The total amino acids had a range of 89.16 - 92.12 g/100g. The coefficient of variation percent (CV %) for all the parameters determined were all generally low with values of 0.74 (observed for Ser) and 39.41 (observed for Pro). Total essential amino acid with histidine values ranged from 38.64 - 42.91 g/100g (CV % = 5.66). It was also observed that the concentrations (g/100g) of amino acids in the muscle of fresh catfish (92.12) are higher than that of the tail (91.98) and that of the head (89.16). There is no appreciable variation in the amino composition of the head, muscle and tail of catfish as the values observed were found to be statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Therefore, it could be posited that the amino acid in the muscle, tail and head of African catfish would therefore be enough to prevent malnutrition in children and in adults who feed solely on any part of this fish as a main source of protein.

Zinc carnosine-based modified bismuth quadruple therapy vs standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is a worldwide problem with increasing burden on the health sector due to its increasing rate of resistance.The conventional triple therapy(TT)is becoming obsolete with a high failure rate of eradication,necessitating the need for better alternatives or regimens.AIM To investigate H.pylori eradication rate of TT vs modified bismuth quadruple therapy.METHODS Ninety-two patients with dyspepsia symptoms and positive ^(13)C-urea breath test were randomly assigned to two groups.The first group(control group)was treated for 14 d using standard TT protocol:Esomeprazole(40 mg twice daily),amoxicillin(1 g twice daily)and clarithromycin(500 mg twice daily).On the other hand,the second group was prescribed a 10-d course of modified bismuth quadruple therapy fortified with zinc carnosine:TT in addition to bismuth subcitrate(240 mg twice daily)and zinc carnosine(75 mg twice daily).A repeated 13C-urea breath test was done 4 wk after the completion of the eradication therapy.RESULTS Among the 92 subjects,67.4%were males and 32.6%were females.There were no differences in demographic characteristics(age,body mass index,smoking history,previous antibiotics use and ethnicity)between the modified bismuth quadruple therapy group and TT group.The eradication rate was higher[93.5%(43/46)]in the modified bismuth quadruple therapy group compared to 69.6%(32/46)in the standard TT group(P=0.003).Of the tested predictor variables,only nationality,smoking and therapy type were statistically significant.Besides dizziness,which was recorded in modified bismuth quadruple therapy group,there were no significant differences in side effects between the two groups.CONCLUSION Ten days of modified bismuth quadruple therapy fortified with zinc carnosine is superior to 14 d of conventional TT in eradicating H.pylori infection,with no additional significant adverse events.

Identification of Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans in Barbados by rep-PCR

Plant disease diagnosis in Barbados is based mainly on traditional biochemical and microbiological cultural techniques with infrequent use of molecular diagnostic techniques. The main objective of this study was to provide a simple, rapid and accurate PCR strategy for identifying plant diseases in Barbados. We used rep-PCR a molecular diagnostic technique which can provide a barcode profile for many bacteria and some pathogenic fungi. Pseudomonas syringe pv. lachrymans was detected in both seed and leaf tissue from an infected field and commercial seed samples of cucumber in Barbados. Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans reference strains were identified by rep-PCR and compared to isolates from field and commercial varieties of cucumber. Leaf and seed isolates had similar molecular profiles to different reference strains of P. syringae pv. lachryrnans and displayed different rep-PCR profiles when compared to each other. Isolates from seed also showed more variation than leaf samples. While this represents the first scientific report of the pathogen on the island, the data suggest that the presence of P. syringae pv. lachrymans in Barbados may be due to both external and internal contamination through the use of imported seed or spread by endemic epiphytes respectively.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with switchgrass(Panicum virgatum L.)in the acidic,oligotrophic pine barrens ecosystem

Arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi contribute globally to ecosystem services and play an important role in sustainable crop production.However,it is unclear which factors contribute most to their colonization and community structure at different sites,particularly in understudied ecosystems.This study investigated the AM fungal communities associated with switchgrass(Panicum virgatum L.)in the understudied acidic and oligotrophic pine barrens ecosystem using next-generation sequencing.Switchgrass was also sampled from agroecosystems,as well as,from a native prairie for comparison.The pine barrens switchgrass harbored a distinct AM fungal community−Acaulospora and Ambispora were almost exclusively found in the pine barrens sites,and some of these species may represent undescribed taxa.Glomus was the most ubiquitous AM fungal genus recovered from all sites.This study suggests differences in the AM fungal community structure under different soil properties and land uses.This is the first sequence-based report of the AM fungal communities in the pine barrens ecosystem.

Outcompeted by an invader?Interference and exploitative competition between tropical house gecko(Hemidactylus mabouia)and Barbados leaf-toed gecko(Phyllodactylus pulcher)for diurnal refuges in anthropogenic coastal habitats

House geckos in the genus Hemidactylus are highly successful colonizers of regions beyond their native range,with colonization often resulting in displacement of native gecko species through competitive interactions for daytime refuge(crevices)and prey resources.We report on data collected from nighttime surveys undertak­en in April-May 2014 on Barbados,West Indies,that focused on the distribution and abundance of the endem­ic Barbados leaf-toed gecko(Phyllodactylus pulcher)and the introduced tropical house gecko(Hemidactylus mabouia)along unlit coastal walls and among boulders in the grounds of a hotel resort.In contrast to patterns of displacement of native species by H.mabouia seen elsewhere,P.pulcher was more abundant than H.mabouia on coastal walls,whereas the latter was found in greater numbers using boulders at this site.Walls and boulders differed with regard to availability of diurnal refugia suitable for geckos,with the walls having high frequen­cy of small crevices with openings<20 mm,and boulders offering very little cover other than the underside of the boulder itself.To investigate whether this niche separation was a result of differences in diurnal refuge use between the species,we conducted experimental trials in which geckos were allowed to select between refu­gia with different characteristics.Both species selected for narrower and warmer refugia,and refugia that had been previously occupied by the other species.These shared preferences for refugia type suggest that other fac­tors underlie the niche separation observed in the field.In supporting high densities of P.pulcher,coastal walls could offer important secondary habitat by augmenting the natural cliff side habitat of this endemic gecko,a finding that could be exploited for the conservation of this candidate species for Critically Endangered classifi­cation.